Combined action by navies needed to tackle piracy: Antony

Union Defence minister A K Antony on Saturday said that Indian navy was working in tandem with other countries to tackle piracy and also called for "a combined action under United Nations" by international navies.

Union Defence minister A K Antony on Saturday said that Indian navy was working in tandem with other countries to tackle piracy and also called for "a combined action under United Nations" by international navies.

The minister said that piracy has emerged as one of the major problems along with terrorism.

"We are continuously strengthening our navy which is working in anti-piracy operations in tandem with other countries. But don't expect miracles," Antony said while speaking to reporters after inaugurating the first and second phase of modernisation at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in Vasco.

"Navies from all important countries like the USA, UK, France along with India are working in the anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Eden. Nevertheless, piracy still persists," he said.

"However, navies will not succeed unless there is a combined action under the United Nations. The effectiveness of fighting piracy will not be achieved in the absence of this combined action and talks are already on in this regard,” he said.

Antony informed that over the past one year, the Indian navy has substantially increased deployment of its forces in the anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Eden along with other countries.